2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Overview

The Honda CR-V has long been a highly practical and sensible choice among today’s compact, two-row SUVs, and the hybrid version of the new sixth-generation, 10Best-winning model only increases its appeal. With its impressive fuel economy and smooth power delivery, the gas-electric setup that comes standard in the CR-V’s two top trim levels is a worthy upgrade over the nonhybrid models’ base turbocharged engine. The Hybrid's combination of a gasoline four-cylinder engine and electric motors provides 204 horsepower and offers quicker acceleration than the nonhybrid—and it’s quieter, too. No matter whether you choose the standard front-wheel-drive setup or the optional all-wheel-drive configuration, the CR-V Hybrid is our favorite version of our favorite small crossover. The downside is that you have to pay extra for all this goodness, as Honda doesn’t offer the less expensive trim levels with the hybrid powertrain.

What's New for 2023?

All versions of the CR-V are new for 2023, and the redesigned model boasts new styling inside and out along with many welcome new features. Honda also reconfigured the lineup to tie the hybrid powertrain to certain trim levels: the Sport and Sport Touring trims come only as hybrids, while the LX, EX, and EX-L come only as nonhybrids.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The fully loaded Sport Touring model’s long list of equipment is enticing, but its significantly higher price is tough to justify. We recommend the front-wheel-drive Sport, which is a good value and is rated at an impressive 40 mpg combined by the EPA. All-wheel drive is a $1500 option on the Sport and comes standard on the Sport Touring but be advised that it drops the EPA combined fuel economy rating to 37 mpg.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The CR-V’s hybrid powertrain, which pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors, produces 204 horsepower—which is more than the nonhybrid model’s 190 hp. The combination is smooth, quiet, and satisfying, if not particularly quick. At our test track, the Sport Touring Hybrid hit 60 mph in a respectable 7.9 seconds. While the Sport Hybrid can be had with front- or all-wheel drive, the latter is standard on the Sport Touring Hybrid. While it lacks the handling thrills we love in the Mazda CX-50 and the Volkswagen Tiguan, the new CR-V provides a smooth ride and enough moxie to avoid being boring to drive.

Towing and Payload Capacity

The CR-V Hybrid is rated to tow 1000 pounds when equipped with optional towing accessories, which is 500 pounds less than the nonhybrid is rated to tow.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The most fuel-efficient CR-V is the front-wheel-drive Sport Hybrid, which achieves 43 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. On our real-world 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, the all-wheel-drive Sport Touring Hybrid—rated for 40 mpg city and 34 mpg highway—achieved a significantly lower result, registering 31 mpg for our standard 200-mile test run. For more information about the CR-V Hybrid's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Spacious, logically laid out, and comfortable, the CR-V Hybrid’s interior is a pleasant place to spend time. Whether you’re in the driver’s seat or the rear seat, there’s plenty of space to stretch out. Honda incorporates nice materials, especially in the leather-equipped Sport Touring, and the honeycomb-texture trim over the air vents adds visual interest to the dashboard. We also like how the controls are laid out logically, from the touchscreen audio and infotainment adjustments to the trio of climate-control knobs lower on the center stack. There’s also a digital display screen in the gauge cluster that can be configured to show different bits of information. The cargo area is spacious, holding 11 carryon suitcases with the second-row seats in place, and those rear seats fold down easily to expand that space to hold up to 29 suitcases.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The Sport Hybrid has a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Sport Touring upgrades to a significantly larger 9.0-inch screen that can mirror your smartphone wirelessly. The Sport Touring also has a built-in navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a wireless phone charging pad.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Every CR-V Hybrid comes with lots of driver-assistance features, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Sport Touring comes standard with even more features, including blind-spot monitoring. For more information about the CR-V Hybrid’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard lane-keep assist and lane-departure warning
• Standard automated emergency braking
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

There's nothing particularly special about the CR-V's limited and powertrain warranties. Both include coverage periods comparable with most competitors. On the other hand, Honda will start offering complimentary scheduled maintenance on 2023 models, which includes the new CR-V.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 24,000 miles

More Features and Specs